A fantastic FCS instrument that rivals some of the more lauded boutiques. The Custom Shop is clearly at the top of their game these days.
Our latest Custom Shop Strat demonstrates the evolution of Fender's aging process - namely via the back of the neck. It's a lot of fun to order, spec, and play so many FCS instruments as you can see them evolve as time goes on (in a great way).
The finish, feel, and look of this guitar is more inline with ever-popular boutiques like Danocaster. It looks more natural and feels incredible - smooth and broken-in.
The Fat 50s pickups deliver gorgeous tones via their alnico V magnets, Formvar wire, and reverse wound middle pickup (which yields hum-cancelling in positions 2 and 4). The idea is to bolster the bass response while dialing back the mids just a touch. All the glassiness we love in a great Strat are still present, the low end just feels a touch fuller.
From Fender:
"New for 2024, the Fender Custom Shop introduces the 1959 Stratocaster Journeyman Relic. The two-piece select alder body features a Faded Aged Sea Foam Green with a Journeyman level relic for an authentically worn-in look and feel of a family heirloom instrument that’s been handed down through the years.
Classic appointments from the end of the decade are featured up and down the guitar: quartersawn maple neck with ’59-style “D” back-shape and flat-laminated rosewood fingerboard bring out the best in tone and playability. Armed with a trio of Custom Shop hand-wound Fat ‘50s Stratocaster pickups, Vintage Modified #2 wiring and Tone-Save bleed circuitry, there’s no shortage of sought after golden era tone.
Other premium features include 9.5" radius, 21 narrow tall (6105) frets, 5-way switch, 3-ply mint green pickguard, Custom Shop vintage synchronized tremolo, vintage-style tuning machines, bone nut, wing string tree with tall metal spacer, deluxe hardshell case, strap and certificate of authenticity."
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